Lawrenceville.Talk

By Steve

August 9, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this

I have been contemplating the same thing, Ms Bullard. There is definetly a need for a service like this, and as Hartsfield becomes less and less convenient, I hope to see services expand like this one that is offered at Briscoe field.

By Cletus Snow

August 9, 2006 12:38 PM | Link to this

I think there needs to be a second major airport in ATL, I’m not sure it could be Brisco.Most major cities have two airports,Before any more major improvements are made to Hartsfield they should look at the option.Maybe some competion would help, I dont see any way Hartsfield could get any worse.

By Argus

August 9, 2006 1:19 PM | Link to this

Maybe using one of the other airports like Winder-Barrow or Athens-Epps would be an alternative, to tap the I-85/316 corridors.

By Mel S.

August 9, 2006 1:57 PM | Link to this

It all depends on how flexible you are with your flights. Having worked for Delta, I like the fact that you can go just about anywhere in the country non-stop from Atlanta on Delta or Air Tran. Delta has lowered prices considerably and air travel is now more affordable than ever. Everyone has gotten spoiled to the rates they are at now and dont realize how cheap air travel is now compared to say 10-30 years ago, especially before Deregulation (when the government controlled the price of air fares). I do agree that we need a 2nd airport in the area, much like Dallas/Fort Worth has DFW and Dallas-Love Field (DAL) and the same for Houston Intercontinental (IAH) and Houston-Hobby (HOU). That would bring the onslot of price wars I can promise you that. Southwest knew they couldnt compete here in Atlanta nor could Jet Blue because of Delta before 9/11. Now that Air Tran is here and Southwest has gained popularity through their show “Airline”, more people are wanting to see them service places like Atlanta. Personally I could care less for the cattle call and all 737 fleet. After working in the industry and seeing how their pilots give no reguard to safety and generaly overall appearance, I prefer the legacy carriers. More times than not, they come in too fast, speed on the taxiway’s and while they dont hit the press that much, have overshot their landings and skidded off more runways than they care to admit to. Plus, their pilots look liket hey just woke up or stepped out of a bar after a night of drinking. Anyway…getting back on track, after my tenure with Delta, I just knew how to work in ATL. You gotta be educated about travel, know the rules for the airlines and expect lines and the factor for delays. Granted, we were given ways to circumvent the lines, now that I am no longer with them and I am a “regular passenger” I now know what to expect. That is all that matters, being educated, knowing cut offs, that there will be lines and delays. A second airport somewhere in the area would help give us an option to avoid ATL and let that become the International Hub and allow the other airport to be strictly domestic only. It would bring more airlines and the discount carriers like Southwest and Jet Blue as well as others like Spirit to service more cities other than just Fort Lauderdale as well as Sun Country, Allegiant and many more that you dont see on these travel websites or know much about since its mainly the major airlines and Air Tran here in Atlanta.

Would it collapse Delta as a whole by bringing the low cost carriers in? Who knows. I am still very much loyal to Delta after leaving, but I do feel that bringing another airport would help from a passenger standpoint.

If the cost of fuel wasnt so high, I suggested to people driving to Birmingham (BHM) and taking Southwest or heading to Greenville, SC (but depending on where you are going and if you book Delta, you’ll still connect in Atlanta). But now that fuel is $3 and over, its just as cheap to fly non-stop from Atlanta or even with a connection, depending on the destination.

Athens Ben-Epps Airport had 2 flights a day on US Air’s Regional carrier US Express departing M-F at 6am and 6pm, one on Saturday at 6am and Sunday at 9am and 6pm returning at 5:50pm and 8:40pm via their hub in Charlotte, so that is an option to get out of flying to and from Atlanta.

Again, as a former Deltoid, I am biased. I love big airports, I love the busy atmosphere, the bigger aircrafts and the people watching in general. I worked in small cities like Jackson, MS where you could still show up right before boarding time and make your flight. If we felt like being nice, we’d allow a runner with no bags if we were still in active boarding 20 min before push back. I could literally leave my house 45 min before depature, park my car and get through security. We (Delta) operated out of only 4 gates. Then I also worked in Las Vegas and I could still leave my apartment within the hour (although I could take short cuts through security) and make my flight. Atlanta has become tagged as “You have to go through Atlanta just to get to Hell” and sometimes I agree. Travelers hate connecting in Atlanta because we are notorious for delays. But with the addition of the new runway, that should help the FAA Air Traffic Control delays as long as weather stays out of the picture.

Here is a side point and unsolicited advice to travelers as a whole. Shop around before booking with a travel site. You really do save more by booking directly with the airline rather these sites, they are more flexible tickets and less restrictions. I have found cheaper fares with the airlines directly and actually in most routes, cheaper fares if not comparable on Delta and other legacy carriers rather than discounters like Southwest and Jet Blue. Most of the low cost carriers dont participate in the travel sites, so go to their websites directly. Sites like Priceline, Cheap Tickets, Hotwire, Lowestfare etc that give you price and you have to purchase before you know what you are getting are traps. Kayak, Booking Buddy, Sidestep are all good search engines, but I have found better deals on the airlines website. So…my point, shop around then book with the airline, you can find everything you need as well as packages too and avoid booking fee’s and have more flexible schedules, non-stop flights and if you need to make a change you can do so with the airline rather than being at the travel site companies mercy.

By Nickie

August 9, 2006 2:18 PM | Link to this

Since I live in East Cobb, another airport somewhere in Gwinnett wouldn’t be any closer. As it is I just have someone drop me off at Marta’s Dunwoody station and plan to get to ATL about 2 hours before my flight. I take a book and spend a little time reading after I get throught security. The advantage these days with full flights is twice recently I have volunteered to take a “bump” on an oversold flight and gotten to my final destination only a couple of hours later than I originally planned. For my trouble I was upgraded to first class and have two vouchers for round trips to use during the next year. My husband and I are going back to Yellowstone next spring on these. Yes, I am a liesure vs a business traveler so a few hours reading a book is no hardship but it works for me.

By warren

August 9, 2006 2:24 PM | Link to this

About 10 years ago there was a big outrage over a proposal to bring commercial jets into Brisco. It seems the many homeowners under the flight path didn’t like the idea of having big jets scream overhead all day and night. Briscoe is surrounded by homes not heavy industrial. This is not a new problem yet nobody has built another commercial airport anywhere on the North side. That’s really a shame. It is almost as fast to drive to Destin than go through Hartsfield. And does anyone really feel safer after going through the security checks??

By Robin

August 9, 2006 2:37 PM | Link to this

Athens would make a wonderful “ATL Regional” airport except for one glaring problem- USAir serves the airport. How I would love to fly to other parts of the nation from Athens without having to go through Charlotte (USAir’s only destination from Athens). Why Delta/ASA or whoever has never considered Athens has a destination is way beyond me. With UGA and the like, they would make a killing flying a few times a day. Who would I call down there to get this done? I mean, if ASA flies to Macon from Atlanta, why not us?

The one time I flew from Athens was to Boston via USAir- the flight out from Athens was late leaving, we had to (literally) change planes in Charlotte (a crack was found in the cockpit window RIGHT BEFORE we were to taxi) and we landed in Boston at 1am and not 11pm as schedule.

By Air Traveler

August 9, 2006 3:09 PM | Link to this

I try to fly in the non-peak times to avoid the horrors created by TSA. The Atlanta airport is a joke for returning flights that are international. We have to clear customs, and then recheck all of our baggage. The new international area was to be done in 2005, and now they are back at ground zero. I try to avoid using Atlanta when flying internationally…which is often.

By Jason

August 9, 2006 6:06 PM | Link to this

This idea comes up every couple of years. Each time it is studied, the results are the same: existing airports have too much development around them to be converted into a true commercial airport and a new airport away from development is too expensive and is only wanted by the budget airlines (who aren’t going to pay for it to be built).

A better use of energy would be to focus on making it easier to get to Hartsfield or one of the regional airports like Birmingham or Chatanooga.

By Bryan

August 9, 2006 7:11 PM | Link to this

Local airports are a great way to get out of the city quick and especially to some of those hard to reach destinations. If you are flying to a major city with a discount carrier, then Hartsfield is where you should be flying from. If you want to take a plane to Destin or to Athens for a Saturday game, or maybe just hop a flight to the caribbean, try charter flights. I think you can get Charter flights out of Briscoe in Gwinnett, DeKalb-Peachtree ITP on Peachtree Industrial and Clairmont, McCollum in Kennesaw and Charlie Brown Airport near Six Flags. These are just a few and if you look around, I am sure you will find a lot more.

By bravo

August 9, 2006 10:54 PM | Link to this

In the past year I’ve been to seattle, chicago, boston, new york-la guardia, dulles airport in DC, houston hobby, las vegas, lax, and milwaukee (i’m probably leaving a couple out). i’ve found that atlanta is a great airport when compared nationally. the only airport with demonstrably better service in terms of security AND baggage claim service has been milwaukee, which is an extremely small airport compared to atlanta. in terms of BIG CITY airports, ours is one of the best in my view.

By Corporate Traveler

August 10, 2006 1:11 AM | Link to this

While I can appreciate Mel’s enthusiasm for his former employer, corporate aviation and charter flights are the way to go. Long gone are my 2+hour trips through security, take off my jacket weeks vs “naw don’t take off your jacket” weeks, shoes on vs. shoes off days, laptop drills from TSA personnel that couldn’t turn it on anyway and the myriad of senseless machinations that are designed to make the “cattle chute” travelers feel safer. I do however, thank the TSA and Atlanta Hartsfield for giving me that final push to force me to consider private aviation and charter aircraft as a viable alternative. I’ve never traveled better! So Ms. Bullard, have at it. The more you do it, the less you’ll ever think of Atlanta Hartsfield!!!

By Traveler111

August 10, 2006 7:02 AM | Link to this

SHHH! Don’t tell anyone about Athens Ben Epps field, (OOPS) I have moved to Athens just to escape Atlanta traffic and especially the moronic joke of an airport in Hartsfield. I long ago lost any allegiance to Delta and the drive to Greeneville is the same as to Hartsfield without Atlanta traffic or having to park and then get to the terminal then go through security then get to the proper concourse and then wait for a delayed flight. Returned last night from Boston on US Air, a one hour layover in Charlotte and then in 1 hour and 10 minutes later I was in my living room watching the braves blow another one. Good bye Atlanta and Hartsfield and GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!

By Charlie

August 10, 2006 10:32 AM | Link to this

Avoiding the Hassles of Hartsield is what the company you are referring to in your article is all about. But they are not just a charter company, they are a micro-airline. Use of regional airports is on the rise as more and more travelers discover the conveniences; no parking hassles, no security lines, no possibility of lost luggage and so much more. After almost 10 years of enduring Hartsfield this is a welcome alternative. Anyone wanting to get to the beach for a weekend can forget about the 5 to 7 hour drive and skip Hartsfield altogether. Living in Roswell I can leave my house and be on the beach in Destin, Hilton Head or St. Simons in 2 hours! No, that’s not a 2 hour flight, that includes drive time, arriving 5 minutes before the flight time that I chose, having a shuttle or rental car waiting for me at the other end. Additionally, I can charter a plane for pleasure or business and travel with up to 7 people for the same price as 1. Fir business that means I can visit 2 or 3 cities that Delta or Airtran can’t get me to and be home the same day. No more Hartsfield for me! BTW, the airline is Wings Air and you gotta love their toll-free number … 1-877-SKIP-ATL.

By Michael

August 10, 2006 1:48 PM | Link to this

I think downsizing Brisco would be better. Let’s get rail. Who needs move terrorist training in Lawrenceville? I’m sick of those daily flights over my home. Get rid of it. Maybe call it Brisco McKinney Airport?

By Charlie

August 10, 2006 4:56 PM | Link to this

Today’s terrosist’s events only underscores the need for small regional carriers like Wings Air that use regional airports!

And to Michael who wants to get rid of Briscoe, sorry you are out of luck. Briscoe is the next regional airport in Atlanta to get go through a major expansion. Better move now while you can!

By Michael

August 11, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this

No thanks, Gwinnett will not get anything else. Vote the idiots out of office. You must be thinking about DeKalb.